The academic profession and the rising knowledge societies in Africa: A comparative analysis of research, teaching and community outreach in Makerere University and the University of the Western Cape

Abstract

This thesis explores the fate of the academic profession at Makerere University [MUK], Uganda and the University of the Western Cape [UWC], South Africa. The study explores higher education as a strategy prioritized to drive knowledge production, innovation, ICT integration, and human resource development to position economies across Sub Saharan Africa among knowledge economies. While the study recognizes that the initiatives in Uganda and South Africa are at a policy rhetorical level hence categorizes the two as “rising knowledge societies”, the policy implications on universities as the main seat of knowledge and innovation in the two countries motivated the study to establish if the academic profession at MUK and UWC is changing in response to the policy interests of the rising knowledge society in the two countries.